Combination leg/foot rest and bed cover retainer

ABSTRACT

A leg and foot rest device to alleviate leg and foot fatigue, which device is readily insertable between the mattress and its support of a bed, to project from lateral sides thereof and also acts not only as a leg and foot rest, but also to preclude both the bed covers and occupant from inadvertently inadvertently off the bed, as contrasted to means elevating bed covers at the lower end of the bed to preclude contact thereof with the occupants legs and feet.

United States Patent Ichise Feb.8,1972

[54] COMBINATION LEG/FOOT REST AND BED COVER RETAINER [72] Inventor: Noboru lchise, No. 18, 3-chome,

Takaidahondori, Higashiosaka-shi, Osakafu, Japan [22] Filed: Sept. 29, 1969 [21] Appl. No.: 861,623

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Aug. 15, 1969 Japan ..44/64900 [52] US. Cl ..5/327, 5/92, 5/320, 5/331', 297/427 [51] int. Cl. ..A47c 21/02, A47c 21/08 [58] Field ofSearch ..5/327, 331, 319,320,321, 5/92; 297/427 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,952,855 9/1960 Zuti ..5/327R 3,005,212 10/1961 Barnhill ..5/327 R 830,103 9/1906 Rundell ...297/439 1,577,089 3/1926 Whitford ..5/319 2,244,310 6/1941 Murphy... ..5/319 2,642,589 6/1953 Cobb ..5/319 Primary Examiner-B0bby R. Gay Assistant Examiner-Darrell Marquette Attorney-Wenderoth, Lind & Ponack [57] ABSTRACT A leg and foot rest device to alleviate leg and foot fatigue, which device is readily insertable between the mattress and its support of a bed, to project from lateral sides thereof and also acts not only as a leg and foot rest, but also to preclude both the bed covers and occupant from inadvertently inadvertently ofithe bed, as contrasted to means elevating bed covers at the lower end of the bed to preclude contact thereof with the occupants legs and feet.

5 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTED FEB 81372 SHEEI 1 [IF 4 NOBORU ICHISE INVENTOR ATTORNEY s v PATENTEDFEB we 3539329 SHEEI 2 OF 4 FIGA.

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INVEN'IOR BYwMJu %i vu/U I ATTORNEY PATENTEU FEB m EJ639329 SHEEI 0F 4 FIG.8.

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INVENI OR ATTORNEY COMBINATION LEG/ FOOT REST AND BED COVER RETAINER This invention relates to a footrest for use as an attachment to the bed.

It has been known that the legs can be cured of the fatigue by placing them on an appropriate rest while sleeping. This cure however is not readily practicable for lack of an appropriate rest at hand.

The first object of the invention is to obtain a footrest which can be used by attaching it to the bed without difficulty. The second object of the invention is to prevent the quilt from slipping down from the bed. Furthermore, the third object of the invention is to prevent the sleeper himself from tumbling off his bed while sleeping.

The foregoing objects are attainable by the combination of each part constituting the invention and the application of the implement to the bed, and the particulars thereof will be set forth hereinunder with reference to the annexed drawing, of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken vertically of the foregoing embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the frame of the foregoing embodiment:

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the disjointed covers of the foregoing embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken vertically of the foregoing embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the frame of the foregoing embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the state of use of the first embodiment; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the state of use of the second embodiment.

The invention consists of a base member which is to be inserted between the bed and the mattress laid thereon and a footrest member which is curvedly erected at one end of the base member.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the numeral 11 designates the base member, with 12 designating the footrest member. The base member 12 consists of a base frame 13, a flat sheathlike cover 14 with which to cover the base frame 13, and a comparatively thin buffer member 15 of soft elasticity consisting of any arbitrary material, such as foam synthetic resin, sponge and the like, which is laid on the base frame 13 inside the cover 14.

The footrest member 12 comprises a footrest frame 16 erected at one end of the base frame 13, a flat sheathlike cover I7 to be slipped on the footrest frame 16 from above, and a buffer member 18 inside the cover 17 to be placed on the internal side of the footrest frame 16, viz. on the side of the basement 11, the said buffer member 18 being of the same material as that of the foregoing buffer member 15.

The base frame 13 and the footrest frame 16 are integrally formed making use of strong material, such as metal pipes, rods, hoops and the like, reinforcing members 19 of the same material being fixed to each vital point thereof. The covers 14, I7 consist of soft synthetic resin sheet, fabric or the like, a linking piece 20 being provided at the lower opening of the cover 17, a plurality of snaps 21 being fixed thereto, a plurality of snaps 22 which fit the said snaps 21 being fixed to the lower side of the opening of the cover 14, the covers 17, 14 being slipped over the base member 13 and the footrest frame 16 respectively and then linked together by means of the snaps 21 of the linking piece 20 and the snaps 22 of the cover 14. A linking device, such as a fastener and the like, may be employed instead of the snaps 21, 22.

In the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, a footrest member 32 is formed on both sides of the base member 31. In this case too, the base member 31 consists of a base frame 33, a cover 34 and a buffer member 35, same as in the case of the first embodiment, while the footrest members 32 comprise footrest frames 36 erected at both sides of the base frame 33, a cover 37, and a buffer member 38. In this embodiment, except the cover 34 which is in a flat tubular shape with an opening at both ends thereof, all the other component parts are of the identical shape with those of the first embodiment, the covers 37, 34 being linked together by linking the snaps 41 provided on the linking piece 40 formed at the lower opening of each cover 37 and the snaps 42 provided on the lower side of the opening at both ends of the cover 34. Furthermore, the base frame 33 and the footrest frames 36 are integrally formed, reinforcements 39 being fixed to the respective vital points.

The material of each member of the second embodiment is same as that of the corresponding member of the first embodiment. In both the first and the second embodiments the buffer members 15, 35 inside the basement ll, 31 are thin, while the buffer members 18, 38 are thick, the top of each buffer member 18, 38 being rolled along the upper end of each footrest frame 16, 36 so that said top will be formed in the shape of a pillow.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate the state wherein the footrest of the invention is attached to the bed. FIG. 8 indicates the instance of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the base member 11 being sandwiched between the bed 51 and the mattress 52, the footrest member 12 being located on one side of mattress 52. This instance therefore is suitable when the bed 51 is placed in a corner of the room. If the bed is so arranged as will touch the wall on its side where there is no footrest, the quilt and the blanket will never slip off the bed on the side of the wall, while on the other side where there is no wall the quilt and the blanket are prevented from slipping off by the footrest 12 attached thereto.

If the legs are placed on the footrest 12 while sleeping, the legs will be cured of the fatigue, and moreover when the temperature is high in summer putting the legs on the footrest helps give airiness to the bed, giving the sleeper a good nights rest.

FIG. 9 indicates the state of use of the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the basement 31 being inserted between the bed 53 and the mattress 54 so that the footrest 32 will be erected on both sides of the mattress 54. This instance is suitable when the wall is not adjacent to either side of the bed 53, as when the bed is placed in the middle of the room. This arrangement is far more convenient as the legs can be placed at either side of the footrests of the sleepers own free choice, and moreover the quilt will never slip off the bed 53, being fastened thereto by the footrests 32 attached on both sides.

Moreover, the arrangement shown in FIG. 9 is suitable to a double bed, but it goes without saying that this arrangement is also applicable to a single bed or a bed of any size by preparing the base member 31 in the required length.

The buffer members 18, 38 should be thick enough on the inside of the footrests 12, 32, i.e., on the side of the bed, and at the top with which the legs come in direct contact, so that the said parts are smooth to the touch. However, the buffer members 15, 35 of the base member 11, 31 should be thin as they are placed under the mattress, and likewise the base frames 13, 33 should be as bulkless as possible so that the surface of the mattress will be smooth enough. Therefore, the buffer members are not necessarily indispensable for the basements ll, 31.

As described heretofore, the invention has the effect of curing the legs of the fatigue by providing a footrest on which the sleeper can rest his legs, the effect of giving airiness to the bed when the temperature is high and also the effect of preventing the quilt as well as the sleeper himself from falling off the bed. Moreover, since the footrest can be attached simply by inserting the base member thereof between the bed and the mattress, anybody can make use of it readily enough.

What is claimed is: v

I. A combination device of a leg and foot rest and a bed cover retainer to alleviate leg and foot fatigue and to preclude inadvertent sliding of bed covers as well as the occupant from a bed having superposed mattress and a mattress support, said device comprising:

a. a base member having opposed generally parallel sides, said base member being disposed for generally horizontal insertion in between the bed mattress and mattress support generally in the area of the occupants lower legs and feet, and in a direction generally transverse to the length of said bed;

b. a first upstanding retaining member attached to one end of said base member for upstanding projection transversely to said base member laterally of and in parallel with the length of said bed, said upstanding member being provided with buffer padding means at least to the mattress side thereof; and also a second upstanding member also provided with buffer padding and attached to said base member so as to project from the opposite lateral side of said bed in a manner generally like that of said first retaining member;

c. said upstanding retaining members disposed exteriorly of said bed covers and having one side facing and generally abutting a lateral side of said mattress to help retain said bed covers on said bed while said base member also gives underlying auxiliary support to occupants legs; and

d. said base member and upstanding retaining members being integrally formed of a lightweight open structural framework having oppositely spaced side members interconnected by transverse connecting and reinforcing members.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said base member is also provided with buffer padding means at least on the upper surface of said base member to supplement the comfort factor, as well as to inherently impart at least partial elevational support to that portion of occupants legs and feet being served.

3. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said buffer padding means includes removable padding and cover means to envelope at least said upstanding members.

4. A device as defined in claim 2 wherein said buffer padding means includes removable padding and cover means to envelope both said base and said upstanding members.

5. A device as defined in claim 2 wherein said buffer padding means are of separable but interconnectable form for each of said base member and said upstanding members. 

1. A combination device of a leg and foot rest and a bed cover retainer to alleviate leg and foot fatigue and to preclude inadvertent sliding of bed covers as well as the occupant from a bed having superposed mattress and a mattress support, said device comprising: a. a base member having opposed generally parallel sides, said base member being disposed for generally horizontal insertion in between the bed mattress and mattress support generally in the area of the occupant''s lower legs and feet, and in a direction generally transverse to the length of said bed; b. a first upstanding retaining member attached to one end of said base member for upstanding projection transversely to said base member laterally of and in parallel with the length of said bed, said upstanding member being provided with buffer padding means at least to the mattress side thereof; and also a second upstanding member also provided with buffer padding and attached to said base member so as to project from the opposite lateral side of said bed in a manner generally like that of said first retaining member; c. said upstanding retaining members disposed exteriorly of said bed covers and having one side facing and generally abutting a lateral side of said mattress to help retain said bed covers on said bed while said base member also gives underlying auxiliary support to occupant''s legs; and d. said base member and upstanding retaining members being integrally formed of a lightweight open structural framework having oppositely spaced side members interconnected by transverse connecting and reinforcing members.
 2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said base member is also provided with buffer padding means at least on the upper surface of said base member to supplement the comfort factor, as well as to inherently impart at least partial elevational support to that portion of occupant''s legs and feet being served.
 3. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said buffer padding means includes removable padding and cover means to envelope at least said upstanding members.
 4. A device as defined in claim 2 wherein said buffer padding means includes removable padding and cover means to envelope both said base and said upstanding members.
 5. A device as defined in claim 2 wherein said buffer padding means are of separable but interconnectable form for each of said base member and said upstanding members. 